GRANDAD Jack Rogers was in his 100th year, in great health and looking forward to a telegram from the Queen.

Then the council moved a mentally-ill patient into the old folk's home where Jack had lived happily for two years.

The man, in his 60s, was moved in for assessment under a change in council policy.

Weeks later, the patient walked into 99-year-old Jack's room and beat him up in a motiveless and brutal attack.

The Royal Navy war veteran and former coal miner suffered a blow to the head, cuts and bruising, a badly broken femur and a shattered hip. He was taken to Hope Hospital in Salford where he had an operation immediately and later required two others because of complications.

Two weeks after his last operation, he died on December 15, after suffering an infected hip joint, blood clot on the lung, and bronchial pneumonia.

After hearing of the tragic end to Jack's life, Salford coroner Jennifer Leeming adjourned an inquest and in a highly unusual move asked police to re-investigate the case.

Detectives had taken no further action after speaking to Jack's attacker and deciding he was mentally unfit. Jack's relatives claim they were told by Salford social services that patients with "mild to medium dementia" would be moved in to the home and would be separated from residents.

Now they have hired lawyers with a view to taking legal action against the council which owns the White Meadows old people's home in Swinton.

Jogged

Jack's daughter Doris Lyons said: "My dad was as fit as a flea. He was brilliant for his age. He was jogging until he got into his eighties and until three years ago used to take my dog for a walk every day.

"If my dad had not been assaulted he would be here today. He would have been 100 years old in April.

"I am very upset about what happened and I want to know the truth. I don't want anything like this to happen to any other family."

The day after the assault, the man who carried out the attack was moved to another unit.

Mrs Lyons' husband David said: "We would like to stress that the treatment Jack received at Hope Hospital was second to none. When he first went into the home, it was an ordinary elderly persons' home. But when it changed to an assessment centre, it was a different environment."

Adam Tulk of Manchester solicitors Russell Jones & Walker, who represent the family, said: "Although the home was taking in disturbed patients we believe they were supposed to be separated from other residents. For relatives, who think their elderly parents are in a protected environment this does raise questions about personal safety."

Supt Dave Leaof Swinton Police, said: "We are continuing to make inquiries following the death of Mr Jack Rogers but we are awaiting medical reports."

Salford city council spokesman Ian Andrew said: "We are co-operating fully with the police and the coroner's investigation. We do not wish to comment further."